Disclaimer- I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII

Chapter Ten: Cloud's Determination

The Seventh Heaven Tavern was quiet, save the murmurs of the patrons sitting near the massive fireplace. Thankfully, the fire bathed the room with enough warmth to keep him secure at the back of the tavern with cloak still fastened and face covered in moderate shadow. As famous as the Seventh Heaven Tavern was in Midgar, it was no place for unmated Omegas and Cloud was loathed to admit that he avoided it even on the quietest of days, but today spoke of a different story. Tugging his hood further over his face, he waved a gloved hand towards the server only to receive a suspicious look in return before she nodded her head and held up a single finger, asking for a moment before delivering the set of drinks to the quiet circle of men that sat near the fire. Cloud sunk further into his chair and took an opportunity to look around and to keep a further eye on the men that the waitress was serving. He was no fool to realize that was a group of Alpha and Betas- Miners.

A group of wet and disgruntled miners, no less.

With the Spring, brought the rains and the floods that seem to hug the mines like a lover returning from a war. The Rains not only caused the miners to lose work but gold as well, forcing an abundant number of men to roam the streets looking for work and trouble. It was during this time of year that Iflana and Aerith all but forbade Cloud to leave the house without a dagger underneath his clothing and an escort who was more or less, Johnny Six, a local blacksmith and happily bonded Beta who was more than willing to swing a sword in the name of his small, Omega friend. Cloud felt his lips pulled into a small smile at the thought. He never thought after leaving the cold embrace of Nibelheim that he would make a friend, seldom make a friend in the name of Johnny Six.

Cloud was shaken from his reverie when the server appeared, her blue eyes giving him a monotone stare. "Welcome to Seventh Heaven. What can I get for you today?"

"Just an Ale and I would like to speak with Barrett." Cloud resisted the urge to smile when the server huffed at the request. "Is he around?"

"Yeah, just got back from Corel Town three days ago so you're lucky that you caught him rested." the server shifted, she painted lips twisting in curiosity. "Would you like anything else before I go get him? A bowl of soup would put some meat on those bones."

"No, but thank you." Cloud leaned back, reaching up and rubbing his eyes in an effort to wipe the exhaustion away, but to no avail. He had been working the streets for days, looking for any information about the missing bodies and people, but folks in Lower Midgar kept their noses to the ground and their ears closed. That was how one stayed alive, after all. Cloud was inclined to follow suit if it hadn't involved his parents and Zack's current state of mind which was less than favorable. He didn't like to think about the sadness in Zack's eyes or the permanent frown the man seemed to wear on a daily basis. So, he would do his best to fix the situation that sat at their feet even if Zack disagreed with his involvement.

"You wanted to see me?" a rough voice asked, that was followed by the smell of pure earth and the rough drag of a chair scraping the ground. "It's not often that people would want to see me during this season."

Cloud looked up, staring at the man from underneath his hood. Barret Wallace was a dark skinned man and the co-owner of the Seventh Heaven Tavern. A man of brute strength, Barrett swung first and asked questions later. An atypical Alpha, Barrett was known as a well of information for those who looking for missing objects or people, but to those who knew the right words and held the right amount of gold, he was a mercenary.

He was exactly what Cloud and Zack needed.

"Yes." Cloud straightened his posture, locking eyes with Barrett from across the table. "My name is-"

"Cloud." Barrett rumbled, startling the young Omega with the knowledge. "You're that Omega that lives with Aerith and Iflana."

"Yes." Cloud blinked, seemingly at a loss for words. "How did you know?"

Barrett shrugged, massive shoulders unwittingly catching Cloud's eye. "I make an effort to know the little ones in the neighborhood and Aerith always talks about you when she pops in. Apple of her eye, you are."

Cloud, still at a loss for words, flushes to the tips of his ears at the compliment. He and Aerith didn't always see eye to eye, but to know that she felt that way about him caused his heart to warm. He would have to thank her and make her something special soon.

"So," Barret began leaning against the chair and making it creaking ominously, the sound forcing Cloud to wonder if and when the chair was going to crack under the pressure. "What can I do for you?"

Cloud looked to the right and left before leaning in, his voice lower to a murmur that Barrett had to strain his ears to hear.

"You have heard of the missing people? The ones that disappeared from Upper and Lower Midgar?"

"Aye," Barrett responded solemnly. "I heard the Alchemist Guild got caught up in that wretched mess. The witches experimented on those poor folks, but without evidence, Alpha Fair can't do a damned thing about it. Burns me alive."

Cloud nodded in agreement, a swift feeling of regret causing his heart to twist as he thought of the people who suffered and Zack, who had all the power and prestige that came with the title of Alpha of Midgar and could do nothing to ease their pain.

"That is why I am here. To find evidence of those who committed such atrocities and to drag them into the light."

"Bold words for an Omega." Barrett chuckled, reaching over and taking a swig of Cloud's ale, despite his protests. "I'll buy you another, hush. Besides," Barrett grinned, his teeth bright against the dullness of the room. "You weren't going to drink. You seem like more of a wine person than ale. It's too strong for your delicate stomach."

"I can handle it just fine." Cloud snapped, swiping and chugging down the ale, his throat burning at the taste. He slammed the mug down and coughed harshly, earning more than one amused look from the few patrons the tavern brought in on a chilly day. "And I prefer beer to wine thank you very much."

Barrett smothered a chuckle when Cloud shot him a sharp glare from across the table. He reached for the cup again and swiftly finished it off before raising his hand for the waitress and it was then that Cloud noticed Barret's hand reflected off the light and realized that it was made out of metal and not just any ordinary metal, but Mithril.

"Noticed did you?" Barret lowered the hand and held it out for Cloud to inspect, only moving when Barrett nodded his consent. "A careless mistake when I was a child. An arrow dipped in the poison of the Midgar Zolom went straight through my hand and struck the nerves and I lost the use of it. My father wouldn't let his son be a cripple and had them chop it off and replace it with a metal hand. Fortunately for us, a Beta mechanic, managed to create this hand and graft it on. The operation was a delicate one, but it managed to save the remaining nerves and I managed to regain to use of ole lefty here. I can't thank the cantankerous woman enough."

"It's amazing. I've never seen anything like it." Cloud twisted and turned the hand, watching as it twitched in his own hands. "Do you know what this could mean for the medical community? This could save so many lives..."

"It could." Barret agreed softly. "If there was enough Mithril to go around. With the Rains and the mines not producing as much, this isn't going to be an endeavor someone is going to strive over."

"What about other metals?" Cloud pressed, twisting and turning the hand and trying to see how it tinkered. "I'm sure steel or even iron would work."

"It would if it wasn't poisonous to the body." Barrett countered with a strained grin. "Mithril is pure when it's refined, but I can't say the same for iron or steel. She didn't want to risk further harm to my body during the planning for this hand and it was hard enough for the miners to hand over the mithril. It cost my father a pretty penny it did."

"I see." Cloud smothered down his disappointment. Over the time he spent as Ifalna's apprentice, he had many a customer come in asking for something for pain and to sleep due to the phantom pain they endured with a missing arm, hand or leg. He wondered how much better their lives with be if they had prosthetics? That they had the opportunity to regain that lost limb, but as much as he didn't want to admit it, the cost of the operation, along with the cost of the mithril-should it be found was simply too high for many of the residents.

"Don't look so down, little one." Barrett rumbled, reaching over and ruffling Cloud's hair gently. "It's going to take time, but such things as prosthetics and medicine are going to become more affordable once it's easier to obtain."

"Or," Cloud countered. "It's going to become more expensive once the producers realize how easier it is to obtain and as much as I love to continue to this trail of conversation, this isn't what I came to talk to you about-"

"The missing people." Barrett interrupted. "As I said before, I'm aware of the disappearances, but without evidence, the local authorities or Lord Fair can't do anything about it."

"That's where you and AVALANCHE come in," Cloud stated, a small smile pulling at his lips when Barret's eyebrows shot up at the mention of AVALANCHE, a small militia group that defended Lower Midgar when soldiers from Upper Midgar couldn't be arsed to their jobs. It was one of the reasons why Barrett knew about the Omegas inhabiting Lower Midgar. There was more than one occasion where a greedy noble kidnapped an unbonded Omega and used them as a pleasure slave only to be killed off by the noble's wife or husband in a fit or jealous rage. Not only was Cloud perfectly content on letting AVALANCHE do as they pleased, but because they did their job without an ounce of thanks. They did it because it was right and nothing more and nothing less.

"You want us to find the people behind it?" Barrett guessed lightly.

"No." Cloud corrected. "I just want you to find information on the disappearance and soon enough it will lead us to the right people. I don't want to endanger AVALANCHE when a lord thinks that your group is poking their noses into the wrong pot."

"AVALANCHE is more than capable than taking care of ourselves, little one. You needn't worry about us fools. I'm willing to take on this case seeing as a majority of the missing originated from Lower Midgar, but I have to ask why someone like you would be interested?"

"My parents were among the missing," Cloud stated bluntly, drawing a sharp hiss from Barrett. "Granted, they're already dead, but that still doesn't make it right, no?"

"No." Barrett murmured, brown eyes assessing Cloud from across the table. "I'll take on the job and I'll contact you when I can."

"Excellent, shall we draw out the contract-"

"No need." Barrett interrupted with a mild grin. "I'll be in touch. I'll have to come up and pick a herbal mixture for my little girl's cold tomorrow morning, we can discuss the contract then." Barrett rose from the chair, ignoring the scrape of the wooden floor. "Shall I walk you back? It's getting late."

"Oh." Cloud felt a flood of warmth at the offer and rose from the seat, straightening his cloak as he did. "Yes, thank you, Mr. Wallace."

"Call me Barrett. We're going to be working together after all."

"Right, Barrett, then you can call me Cloud, it's nice to meet and I look forward to working together."

It's been quite a while since you've called a Council meeting, Lord Fair." Lady Shera Highwind gathered the folds of dark green dress and sat down, looking around before finally settling her gaze on Zack who was giving her a kind smile that failed to reach his eyes. For such a jovial man, Zack had failed to show it in the waning winter months and it had worried not only her but Cid, who had fondly nicknamed him, "Damned Brat."

"Spring is upon us and the new year is blessing us with a more bountiful harvest and not mention the awful, but needed tax season." Zack grimaced at the tasks that lie ahead for him and his council. He was always careful not to tax the people beyond what they could afford, but when new roads and stalls needed to be mended, there was always the time when there was a tax hike needed to cover the cost. The people never protested for they had expected when such a need arose, but Zack never liked the necessary precaution.

"Of course, but it was nothing we couldn't handle via letters." Shera murmured, shooting Zack a knowing look over her glasses. "Not only that, but you called only I to the meeting. May I ask why?"

"I feel as if you and Cid are the only ones I can trust at the moment." Zack leaned back against his chair, eyeing the reports that Kunsel had given him only hours prior. He loathed to look at them, but what kind of man would he be if he ignored his people's problems. Kunsel had felt betrayed when he read the reports and that betrayal had turned to rage at the thought of the lords whom he had pledged his loyalty had done deeds unforgivable in the name of the Gods and themselves. A fact that Zack agreed upon. He had not only gained an ally, but a trusting friend. He knew that Kunsel was a man that could be relied upon which meant one person was on his side. A small, pathetic number, but he knew that one was better than nothing at all. He would conquer the world even with one person at his side. He would change the world with one person at his side. He would shift the tides with one at his side.

"Oh?" Shera pressed lightly. "That's a rather...frightening statement. You have soldiers and a council who would fall on swords if you commanded it and yet, you sit before me and tell me that I am the only whom you trust?"

"Aye," Zack confirmed. "It has come to my attention that those who deem themselves loyal to my cause and House have taken it upon themselves to commit atrocities that I would not even whisper in confession."

Shera's brown eyes narrowed and her lips thinned at her Lord's choice words. "You must enlighten me of these transgressions and those that are disloyal to you and your House, my Lord."

"What would you do with such information, Lady Highwind?" Zack's lips twitched, but he found nothing amusing about the situation that sat at his feet. The people that he grew up with were betraying him and the only people whom he trusted were sequestered in the barracks and in Lower Midgar out of reach in emotional and physical terms and the only person who he could confide in sat in front of him with a scrutinizing expression as if he was insane.

"I will take the appropriate actions," Shera remarked, an offended tone coloring to her tone. "And if that requires the executioner's block then so be it."

Zack's lips curled into a smirk at the remark. In these times of peace, he had forgotten how fearful Shera could be in words and with a sword. In her younger years and with the Civil War with Shinra, she had earned the moniker "Battle Maiden." and had led her own squadron and had taken the lands leading to Kalm and returned them to the Fair Family not only securing the supply route but further victory. No one would believe him unless they saw her in action, but Zack would never forget the moment has she pushed Sephiroth back to the edge of the sparring ring one spring during his twelfth summer with her famed sword, Falchion, in her slim hands. Zack knew without a doubt that Lady Shera of the House of Highwind was a woman of staunch loyalty and had she not married, then Zack would have chosen her as his Shield instead of Angeal. The laws against giving a woman the position be damned.

"We have been compromised and traitors linger in my House and bear the fruit of its efforts." Zack began. "They deprive people of the peace of death and conduct horrid experiments on them as if they mean nothing at all."

"The missing folk." Shera murmured. "Yes, I have heard rumors of such happenstance, but never did I think it would originate from this House. Zack-"

"We must not be hasty." Zack cut in swiftly "We have no hard evidence, but there those who are loyal to the leaders of this uprising are powerful in their own right and have their own Houses that would burn mine to the ground should I make such a bold move against it. We must be quiet and collect more evidence and drag them into the light."

"You must tell me of who you are speaking." Shera urged furiously. "Tell me the name of these traitors."

"The House of Hewley, Crescent and Rhaspodos."

Shera, of hearing the Houses, paled and leaned back into her chair, her breathing sharp and labored. "Those three? Those that have sat in these Chairs for generations? Have sat beside your forebears and brought prosperity upon Midgar? These are the betrayers?"

"Yes," Zack remarked coldly. "Would you still take them to the executioner's block?"

"Gladly." Shera snarled. "I will remove their heads myself if necessary, but tell me, tell me of the atrocities these children have committed in their names."

Zack's lips thinned at the requested, telling her of his meeting with Cloud, to the discovering of the Omega's parents bodies going missing from the graves and of Angeal's confession, of the revelation of Angeal's refusal to betray his friends and unconfirmed lovers. To the man all but confirming that yes, it was him and his cohorts that were experimenting on the bodies. He finished his story with a mild smile that was bitter and filled with sadness. Sadness at failing his people and Cloud, but he was quite surprised to see Shera rise from her seat and wrap him in her embrace, the smell of rosemary surrounding him like a warm blanket.

"You have told me earlier." Shera chided swiftly. "But then again, you were always running around and solving problems on your own, but that ends now I'm afraid."

"So." Zack's voice was muffled and he was not on the edge of tears due to the fierceness and love the embrace offered. "Will you join me? Do I have your trust?"

"Always. I have a couple of contacts that I must get in touch with to further our plans, but you do have my loyalty, as always."

Zack nodded, his eyes shooting to the unopened bottle of wine that was mixed with monkshood, a poison that he had obtained from Ifalna the previous day. He had to make sure that no others would betray him. He had been prepared to do the same to Cid and Shera, on separate terms, of course, but Shera's rage towards Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis' actions made Zack believe that he had her loyalty and that was the only reason she had been spared from the poison. From the sweet embrace of death. But, even despite this, Zack would no longer hesitate to cut down those who gave no remorse in hurting his people and the people he loved. The wine, the poison that lined it and the sword that sat at his belt would ever be proof of such a pledge.

"Come," Zack ordered, pressing the thought of poison and swords to the back of his mind. "We have much work to do."